Friday, October 7, 2011

Welcome to the Seismic Upgrade Blog!

Welcome to our brand new project blog!

In August, preconstruction activities, including environmental surveying, kicked off at the project site of the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL3&4 Seismic). The goal of this important project is to seismically upgrade and strengthen two existing water pipelines where they cross the Hayward Fault in Fremont.

Currently, the project is in the final phases of design and is expected to go out for bid by the end of the year. The world-class engineers at Jacobs Engineering are working closely with San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) engineers to develop high-tech pipeline improvements that will allow the regional water system to withstand a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault.

The seismic upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 will improve the reliability of the water system for the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System’s 2.5 million customers in the Bay Area, including Alameda County.

Advanced pipe elements like the ball joint pictured above will protect the new pipeline during a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault.

As the project progresses, we hope this blog will serve as a valuable resource for you and your neighbors. Check back frequently for construction updates, work details, traffic notices and fun facts about construction and engineering. For now, please visit our project page for more information about what to expect, and download our most recent construction notice at the bottom of this post to learn about the work currently underway.

If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact the Public Outreach Team. You can reach us by phone on our 24-Hour Project Hotline at 800-571-6610, or email us at baydivision@sfwater.org.

Thank you for your interest in the SFPUC Water System Improvement Program’s Seismic Upgrade project! We look forward to working with you and we hope you enjoy learning about this important public works project.

24-Hour Project Information Hotline:

Are you Prepared for the next Earthquake?

The Hetch Hetchy regional water delivery system is taking steps to seismically reinforce its pipelines, tunnels and other facilities and we encourage you to be PREPARED. Check with your County or 72hours.org about how you can get ready. Remember, store at least a gallon of water per person, per day—enough to last 3 days, for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene—and don’t forget your pets.

Partner Agencies With Nearby Construction Projects

Project Information

The Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipelines Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL 3&4 Seismic) is part of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Water System Improvement Program. This project will seismically upgrade two drinking water pipelines where they cross the Hayward Fault in Fremont. To protect the water system, the BDPL 3&4 Seismic project is replacing large sections of the pipelines with high-tech pipe elements and structures designed to protect them from damage during a major earthquake.

The pipelines, known as Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4, cross the Hayward Fault near the intersection of Mission Boulevard and I-680 in Fremont. All project work will take place within the SFPUC’s right of way and nearby staging areas.

The seismic upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 will improve the reliability of the water system for the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System’s 2.6 million customers in the Bay Area, including Alameda County.

Our project team is working closely with local officials to ensure construction schedules are timely and traffic and community inconveniences are minimized.

Our Goal

It is our goal to provide timely, useful information on the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 throughout the duration of the project. As construction continues, check back for construction updates, work schedules and traffic impacts in Fremont.

By signing up for blog feeds and posting feedback, you will receive updates and share your concerns with the Project Team and the community.